Daughter Trilogy Bundle (111 page)

“
I’m not.  I’m being serious.  If this was Pyrrha, then she would have called Nina to the market by some enchanted song.  Did Nina say why she was there?” Jace explains.

“
She said she was there to find a song that was stuck in her head,” Devin murmurs suspiciously.  “She asked me to join her in her search, but I told her I needed to get back to Adisia.  I was fighting it.  I knew something was wrong, and I just wanted us to get the hell out of there.  I thought I was feeling tempted, but I knew that couldn’t be right,” Devin grumbles. 

I take a deep breath, and I try my best to hold back the wave of tears begging to surface.  I don
’t know if I want to hear anything else they said.

I remember his urgent pace to leave the market.  I wish he had just told me something was wrong.

“It’s her.  She stings all victims with the siren’s song - ironic I know, considering the siren’s song is a myth,” Theia adds.

“
What do we do?” I ask anxiously.

“
Nothing for now.  We’ll work with some of the others and see if we can get a theory about what’s going on.  We’ll also see if we can track down her whereabouts.  In the meantime, you guys keep working on the harpie explosion and the new hellhound issue.  We’ll be in touch,” she says, and then hangs up before anyone can object.

“
Damn bitches are now witches too,” I exasperate, and Devin pulls me into his arms.

“
I’m glad you saw her.  I don’t know how much longer I would have made it without being able to hold you,” he whispers to only me.

“
I don’t know how much longer I could have held out.  I begged Aphrodite to show me answers, and she did,” I murmur gently, and then he quickly pulls the fish from the oven as the others disperse from the room.

I smirk a little as he dresses it with a leafy touch, and then he places it on the bar while motioning for me to sit.  He pours me a glass of vodka, but I wave it off.

“No.  It’s still gross to me,” I gripe.

“
You drank the brandy,” he counters.

“
I used the brandy to kill the taste of the damn skunk.  Let’s not go there.  My stomach is far too queasy,” I chuckle out.

He forces a fake smile, and I can
’t tell of if he is worried or upset.

“
Please don’t tell me you’re planning on changing your mind,” I fret, and my eyes casually flash to the wall to see how many shadows are attached.

He flinches when he sees my not-so-discreet reaction, and then he quickly puts his arm around my stool while pulling me closer.

“No.  Never.  I’m just worried about you and your sudden shifts.  What if Jace is right?  What if whatever Pyrrha did has had some adverse side effect on you?”

I sigh in relief when I see he
’s still Devin, and then I lean against him while taking a bite of the surprisingly delicious fish.  Of course, considering I’ve been eating right out of a can for a while, it shouldn’t take too much to impress me.

“
I’m fine, Devin.  I didn’t sleep more than an hour at a time for months, and although it can’t kill me, it can have an effect on me.  That’s all it is.  Once I get back into a routine, I’ll be good as new.  Now that I’m back with you, I can do that,” I say softly.  “After falling asleep on the plane, I already feel much better.”

He frowns, and then his lips caress my brow while I take in another bite. 

“I’m so sorry.  I should have found you sooner.  I’ve always found you before,” he murmurs guiltily.

“
I didn’t want you to find me.  Jace’s tracking abilities were handy in that considering he knows how to cover a trail.  I knew if you found me it would just be a matter of time before I was back in your arms.  The wedding was almost unbearable.  I was actually glad I blacked out,” I say almost jokingly.

“
You should be,” Kry announces while making his eavesdropping be known.

“
Some Bret guy was hovering over you for the first hour you were out.  I thought we were going to have to drag him out before Devin obliterated him,” he chuckles.

Devin stifles a smirk, and I put my head in my hands. 
“Oh.  I was so happy I didn’t have to deal with him.  Please tell me he’s not infected,” I plead.

“
He’s not.  Jace dealt with him,” Ther chirps.

“
What did you do?” I worry, and Jace bursts out laughing at my terrified face.

“
Seriously?  Do I look like I work for the mafia?” he scoffs playfully.  “I didn’t
take care of him
that way.  I just erased all memories of you from his mind.  He’ll never know you existed, and he’ll never bother you again.  Sheesh.  You sort of hurt my feelings,” he kids.

“
Oh thank goodness,” I huff, and Devin lets a small smirk escape as well.

“
I’ll be right back.  I need to call Graven about tomorrow’s plan.  I love you,” he murmurs sweetly, and then he flashes away before I can even smile for him.

The guys fill the girls in on all the old battle stories, and suddenly Jace
’s blond is beside me.

“
Hi,” she murmurs hesitantly.

“
Hi,” I mutter back cautiously while taking another bite.

“
Sorry, I’m Faith.  I just wanted to take a minute and speak to you while we’re alone,” she says very nervously.

Oh damn.  Another one?  Really?  Is there a single hot girl in the immortal world my husband hasn
’t fucked?

“
If you’re coming to tell me about how in love you are with my husband, be warned.  I’m barely controlling my inner goddess these days.”

Her eyes widen, and I can see the stunned panic in her eyes.

“No,” she exclaims, and everyone turns to look at us. 

Jace tilts his head curiously, and then he turns back to the conversation at hand when Deacon starts talking about Safina
’s death. 

“
No,” she reiterates in a whisper.  “I don’t know Devin at all.  Before tonight, I’ve never even seen him.  I came to talk to you about Jace,” she admits.

“
Jace?” I ask curiously, and then I sigh in relief.

“
Yes.  He’s pretty incredible, and he said you’re his best friend,” she explains.

I smile a little and offer his oblivious profile a warm smile.

“He’s mine too,” I sincerely declare, though Clara would kill me if she heard that.

“
I’m just wondering if there’s more I should be worried about.  Is he in love with you?  Are you in love with him?” she asks curiously.

“
That’s blunt,” I say suspiciously.

“
I’ve never been accused of subtly, and the only reason I’m asking is because I don’t want to fall for someone who is hung up on someone else - married or not,” she murmurs with a hint of insecurity.

“
He thought he was in love with me, but we’ve only ever been friends.  You barely know him well enough to start making assumptions though.  If you like him, then you should definitely try to get to know him.  He’s an amazing guy, and you’d be doing well to be with him.  If you even think about using him, I’ll make you look as pretty as Safina did when her ashes floated through the air,” I threaten, and my eyes blaze with the green.

She stumbles backwards slightly, and I
’m a little surprised by my protective side.  Jace is like my brother now, but Aphrodite isn’t usually so easily provoked - at least not in that department.

“
I didn’t mean to strike a nerve,” she stammers.

“
Sorry,” I mutter.  “I didn’t mean to do that.  I feel a little off today.  Is it hot in here?” I ask softly.

“
Are you running a fever?” Jace asks when he creeps up on the conversation he’s been dying to hear.

“
No.  I’m fine.  I was just telling Faith about your motorcycle fetish.  Perhaps you should take her for a ride sometime,” I say to distract him, and she smirks a little at my lie.

“
If you’re running a fever we need to call Persia.  Aphrodite has been sated.  If that was the reason you’ve been so weak, then you would be fine now,” he murmurs with total lack of acknowledgement for my suggestion.

I can see the disappointment in Faith
’s eyes, and I know I have to somehow push him into going out.

“
First of all, Aphrodite is insatiable, so to say that she’s been sated is actually laughable.  Secondly, I’m not weak, I’m hot.  It’s typical for me.  No chills, just fever… my usual fever,” I lie, and then I smirk when I threaten to demonstrate my heated touch on the chair beside me.

“
Got it.  Not really needing a demonstration,” he grumbles with stiffness.

“
So, you have a motorcycle?” Faith interrupts with a touch of excitement.

“
I do, but not here,” Jace murmurs shyly, and it’s so adorable.

“
Take mine,” Devin says as he reenters the room.

He grabs a set of keys from a drawer and tosses them to Jace without hesitation.  I
’m sure he loves Jace having a girl attached to him, and he very likely wants to be rid of him for a while as well.

“
You sure?” Jace asks skeptically.

“
Positive.  There are several to choose from, and all the keys are on that one ring.  We leave at dawn.  Just try to be back by then,” he says so casually, and I can see the confusion in Jace’s face.

“
Yeah.  No problem,” he warily responds, and then he turns back to me.  “Let me know if you need anything,” Jace says softly, and then Faith loops her arm in his before they stroll out together.

“
Did I miss something?” Devin frets.

“
I’m running a fever, but not the kind he thinks I am,” I lie again, but I keep a seductive tone to mask the little fib.

“
Oh really, Mrs. Cole?” he smolders.

“
Really, Mr. Cole,” I seduce, and then I take another bite of my fish.

He sits down beside me, and his hand traces up and down my back.  We
’re both feeling a need for contact, and my free hand moves to rest on his leg.

“
What do you think about all of this?” I ask.

“
I think I’m tired of people interrupting our lives.  I just want to be with you, and I swear I’ll find a way to kill her when we locate her.  I almost lost you because of her,” he says, and the last part is a pained whisper.

“
You never almost lost me.  There were so many times I wished I could just find something to take my mind off of you, but I never found such a distraction,” I admit, but he doesn’t seem to enjoy my confession as much as I had expected.

“
Jace didn’t take your mind off of me?” he asks very leadingly, and his pouting demeanor is a little too hot.

“
No,” I murmur with a smile.  “Jace was just the friend I needed to keep me sane.  Of course, considering my favorite meal choice was ice cream and fish, I suppose my sanity was to be questioned.”

He grimaces at the loathsome thought of what I have been living on, and then he shakes his head while I chuckle.  He smirks a little, and then leans over to kiss me lightly.

“Take the rest to the bedroom,” he murmurs softly.  “I’m tired of sharing you for tonight.  I want you all to myself until we have to leave,” he says so softly, and though seduction isn’t intended, I’m filled with desire just by the tone of his voice.

“
I don’t need to take it,” I murmur with a devious smirk.

“
No,” he snickers a little.  “You need to eat if you’re hungry, and for the record, I’m not at all thrilled about your diet,” he lightly scolds, and then he picks my plate up along with my water to flash toward the room.

I smile when I walk into the room and see he
’s already pulled up a tray for me.  He flips the television to the news, and once again, life feels normal.

We
’re a regular married couple just lounging in each other’s company.

“
What?” he muses when he sees my enigmatic grin.

“
Nothing,” I shyly answer.  “I’m just glad I’m here with you.”

He flashes to me, and his lips sensually play against mine to reward me for my sweet comment.  One hand softly cups my face, while his other slowly crawls down my side.

The honest and genuine sincerity oozes from his eyes as they stare into mine.  The gaping hole for a doorway is the only thing souring this moment.

“
I don’t even know how to explain how incredible it feels to have you in my arms again,” he softly coos.

My lips tug a little more fervently at his, and then I feel the bed steadily climbing beneath me as he slides me on top of it.  His patient, meticulous right hand trails up and down my chest and abdomen as he pulls back to stare into my eyes.